Hey, sorry if this isn’t the right place to ask this (feel free to show me the way). I want to get myself a printer that can also scan. Main purpose is to not have endless sheets of paper laying around, but to scan Documents I recieve and then throwing them away so that I only have them digitally and can print stuff out only when I need them. Now I know that printers are the worst piece of hardware known to man and my needs not office-level.It doesn’t have to have any more buttons or features than are needed to scan a doublesided document and print them, without clogging/eating paper, and print black and white text without complaining about being low on yellow ink.
So my question generally is: what is the most minimalist, non-bullshit printer/scanner that I could get? But since all my devices run Linux I figured I’d just ask this here. Are there any big issues I have to look out for? Brands to avoid? (i.e nvidia being a no go for a lot of linux users) Preferably
I just have a simple Brother laser printer: It has never failed me. Not even sure what model it is but I imagine their scanners/MFPs are pretty similar.
The Brother printer I bought recently was easier to install on Linux than on Mac. I think that says something. Always works too
Agreed, Brother!
I got a Brother MFC-L2750DW and networked setup was so simple. My every device I own detected it including my phone.
Note I haven’t tried connecting it via USB, just network.
I’ve also never had any issues with my laser Brother printer.
Another voice for the Brother laser printer, a truly dependable workhorse.
I have one and I forgot when I got it, it’s just that old and it has never failed me
I have a Brother laser printer/scanner and it just works. I’ve never had to install or configure anything.
+1 on Brother, plus the generic toner is dirt cheap.
What’s the make/model?
I use the hl2340d that has held up really well. Think I’ve had it like 6 years now
I’ve also used their MFC printers and they were pretty awesome
HL-L2395DW
Anything Brother.
Absolutely!
Not a multi function device, but a plain printer, but I have a Borther HL-2365DW connected via 2.4 GHz WiFi and that is detected as HL-L2360D. The printer works absolutely fine. It still has the original toner cartridge and it is used 3-5 times a year without any issues.
Before that I had a HL-2030 that died after ~14 years.
To be fair, I have a 4P that I still use. But yah, my Brothers have always lasted a long time and toner/ink isn’t crazy expensive. And they don’t pull DRM shit like HP and get their peepees slapped time after time.
I’ve had fantastic luck with a Brother MFC b&w laser. Aftermarket toner cartridges are $20 and last a ridiculously long time. The wifi is jank so I’d recommend keeping it connected to your computer via USB, but I was able to get it running on a CUPS server via a Pi easily enough, and brother does make Linux drivers available.
I have a Brother MFC Color Laser and everything here is true for the color version as well. I haven’t had too many issues with wifi jank after I set a static ip both on the router side and the printer side, and then map the printer by ip port on the computer. However, it still acts up every now and then. I plan on fishing some ethernet to that corner of the office, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
My wifi jank was less related to routing as much as it would just… forget how to send data. Especially when scanning. I think it was a controller issue so YMMV depending on which model. USB is still vastly more reliable.
BROTHER LASER PRINTER with a scanner combo. Literally don’t bother with anything else.
/Thread
Brother works incredibly well. Plug and play
I got two Brother laser AIOs (MFC1910W) for my folks and myself.
All I had to do on Arch was installbrother-mfc-1910wfor printing,brscan4for scanning andoh-brotherfor (occasionally) upgrading the firmware, all over WiFi.
I think more user-friendly distros come with these packages preinstalled, so it should just be a matter of opening the printer manager and waiting for it to show up.
Don’t think they make the specific model anymore, but any Brother laser AIO should do.When I used Ubuntu, I had to install the .debs off of Brother’s site by myself. They provide .deb/.rpm packages.
All-time classic Verge article on this subject:
https://www.theverge.com/23642073/best-printer-2023-brother-laser-wi-fi-its-fine
And here’s 275 words about printers I asked ChatGPT to write so this post ranks in search because Google thinks you have to pad out articles in order to demonstrate “authority,” but I am telling you to just buy whatever Brother laser printer is on sale and never think about printers again.
Lmfao
I have a slightly different version of this printer (HL-L2350DW) and can confirm that it just does what it is supposed to do without any issues. It pretty much worked out of the box with all devices in my household and after about two years I am still on the toner cartridge it came with.
What an epic piece of writing!
Get a Brother laser aio.
As others have said, Brother laser printers are great. I’ve had mine for ~10 years, it works better on Linux than it does on Windows, and the toner cartridges last an absurdly long time. I don’t print heavily but I think I’m only on my third toner cartridge since I bought the thing.
My Brother HL 230 laser printer is so reliable. Had it for years and it never failed me.
Brother laser AIO, Just works, and if you don’t really print that much, the starter toner feels like it’ll last forever.
A Brother laser. If buying today, I would get a document feeder, duplexing, and wireless. The $150ish version is fine for home use. Mine lacks wireless so we use special software to add it that adds a step. But it just works and only needs a new toner ever couple years at our printing pace.
I recently ordered a Brother printer, and it just works. “Brother MFCL3730CDNRF1” At one point it was a bit tricky to add it to Cups, but after it, it worked flawless.
